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The Netherlands to provide EUR 22 million to Ukraine for air defense and cyber resilience projects

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands announced the allocation of 22 million euros for Ukraine. The funds will be used to develop air defense systems and strengthen cyber resilience.

Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp announced the allocation of additional assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 22 million euros for the development of cyber resilience and air defense systems. He said this in the social network "X", UNN reports.

The Netherlands allocates an additional €22 million for projects related to Ukraine's air defense and cyber resilience,

– Veldkamp wrote on social media.

According to the minister, at a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council the day before, he "emphasized the importance of strengthening Ukraine's military capabilities.

Recall

Germany will give Ukraine 650 million euros worth of military aid, including IRIS-T air defense systems, tanks, and infantry fighting vehicles. The package will also include 6,500 missiles and 4,000 Helsing drones.

Ukraine is working with NATO to supply 20 air defense systems by the end of the year – SibigaDec 4 2024, 11:15 AM • 21088 views

December 5, 2024
US exposes network that helped Russian elites circumvent sanctions

The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on the TGR Group network and its executives for helping Russians circumvent sanctions. The company was engaged in money laundering and illegal cryptocurrency transactions for the Russian elite.

The US Treasury Department has announced the imposition of sanctions on the international network TGR Group, which helped Russian elites circumvent US and international sanctions. This is stated on the website of the department, UNN reports.

Details

The U.S. Treasury Department notes that TGR Group is a Russian company controlled by Ukrainian citizen George Rossi and has offices in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

The company provides its clients with a range of services, including money laundering related to sanctioned entities, illegal cash and cryptocurrency exchange, and concealment of funding sources, which allows wealthy Russian citizens to purchase real estate in the UK.

Through the TGR Group, the Russian elite attempted to use digital assets – in particular, stable coins backed by US dollars – to circumvent US and international sanctions and further enrich themselves and the Kremlin,

– said Bradley Smith, Acting Under Secretary of State for Counterterrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The sanctions list includes: George Rossi, a Russian-born Ukrainian citizen who controls the TGR Group of companies, as well as Russian citizen Elena Chirkinian and Latvian citizen Andrejs Bradens. The US Treasury believes that Chirkinian is directly subordinate to Russia and makes decisions in the TGR Group. In 2023, she was involved in the transfer of funds to the UK to support the Russian propaganda channel RT. Bradens is affiliated with several TGR Group companies – TGR Corporate Concierge and Pullman Global Solutions.

In addition, TGR Group used other companies to conduct illegal activities, including Smart Group, headed by Kateryna Zhdanova. She was sanctioned by the US in 2023 for her involvement in money laundering schemes worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Recall

The U.S. State Department imposed visa restrictions on 5 Russian officials over the forced deportation of Ukrainian children. russia has illegally taken thousands of children, changing their identities and subjecting them to pro-Russian propaganda.

December 5, 2024
US enforces visa restrictions on Russian officials linked to Ukrainian child deportations

The U.S. State Department has imposed visa restrictions on five Russian officials for their role in the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

"Many of these children have had their identities changed and origins obscured, have been subjected to pro-Russia indoctrination and militarization, or have been adopted by Russian families," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said on Dec. 4.

"We will continue to promote accountability for perpetrators and support efforts to return Ukraine’s children," he added.

Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted from Russian-occupied territories and sent to other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine or to Russia itself, according to a Ukrainian national database "Children of War." Less than 400 have been returned to Ukraine.

A Yale School of Public Health study published on Dec. 3 details Russia's systematic program of deporting and forcibly assimilating Ukrainian children.

Under orders from Russian President Vladimir Putin, children were transported via military aircraft in 2022, reclassified in Russian databases as native-born, and subjected to pro-Russian re-education before being adopted into Russian families. Ukrainian children had been transported to at least 21 regions throughout Russia.

The report identifies 314 children taken from occupied Luhansk and Donetsk regions, with over 60 granted Russian citizenship. Psychologists have been used to legitimize the program, falsely framing adoptions as medically necessary.

These findings, linking Putin and Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova directly to the program, will be submitted to the International Criminal Court as evidence of war crimes.

Ukraine names pro-Russian collaborators suspected of forcibly deporting Ukrainian childrenOne suspect was identified by the Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigations Unit in the documentary “Uprooted.”The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

December 5, 2024
Due to local sabotage, Russians are forced to postpone their plans to “integrate” the occupied territories – Resistance

The Russians postponed the introduction of compulsory insurance in the occupied territories to 2026 due to low passportization. The rate of Russian passports barely exceeds 50% of the TOT population, despite pressure.

In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russian occupiers face massive disregard for their initiatives by the local population. This forces the invaders to reconsider and postpone the implementation of their plans to “integrate” these regions into the Russian legal field. This is reported by the Center of National Resistance, according to UNN.

Thus, the enemy is forced to postpone the implementation of compulsory insurance for the population in the TOT by a year, namely to January 1, 2026. The reason for this is the low level of passportization, as red waste paper is not required for insurance,

– the statement said.

Details

However, the local population continues to avoid obtaining passports. Despite pressure and coercion, and constant raids, the passportization rate is only slightly higher than 50% of the population remaining in the TOT.

Inhumane conditions in "boarding houses" for the elderly in the occupied territories-resistanceDec 4 2024, 12:17 AM • 40869 views

December 5, 2024
Foreign citizen planning sabotage operations on Russia’s orders to be tried in Romania
The Romanian Directorate for Combating Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) has said a Colombian citizen who was working to stage explosions at facilities in Romania on Russia’s orders has been arrested.

Source: Adevarul, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Colombian man, 34, was arrested by DIICOT officers. His case was referred to court on 13 November.

According to investigators, the man planned to carry out arson and explosions at facilities "of particular importance that could threaten national security" in Romania in July 2024.

The man managed to film the facilities in question, but an intervention by the Romanian police has prevented him from carrying out the sabotage operation, DIICOT said.

The Colombian citizen is known to have served in the military in his home country and was trained in intelligence gathering. He faces 10 to 20 years in prison in Romania.

The trial occurs against the backdrop of the ramping up of Russian subversive activity in Europe.

Background:
- Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has said that Russia could be involved in 100 suspicious incidents in Europe that occurred over the course of 2024.
- In May, it was reported that a Romanian citizen was caught spying for Russia.
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December 5, 2024
By the end of Biden’s presidency, the US will have transferred all $61B in previously allocated aid.

PoliticsWar By the end of Biden’s presidency, the US will have transferred all $61B in previously allocated aid. Thursday, December 5, 2024

As stated by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the US plans to exhaust Ukraine’s funding that has been approved by Congress by the end of Joe Biden’s presidential term. The Biden administration is going to increase US security support to further strengthen Ukrainian air defense, artillery, and armored vehicle capabilities. “We intend – this is my desire and the intention of the president – to use every cent of the available $61B in funding,” Blinken emphasized. He added that Ukraine’s other allies are also increasing their support. In total, the US has provided Ukraine with $102B in assistance, and Ukraine’s other partners have given $158B. The Pentagon estimates that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration has allocated approximately $61.4B in security assistance to Ukraine. This includes three Patriot air defense batteries, 12 NASAMS, Avenger and HAWK air defense systems, hundreds of thousands of artillery shells, 31 Abrams tanks, over 300 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, 900 M113 armored personnel carriers, and 20 Mi-17 helicopters.

December 5, 2024
Malta revokes visa for Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova issued to participate in OSCE meeting

Malta revoked Maria Zakharova's visa to participate in the OSCE ministerial meeting on December 5-6. The Russian Foreign Ministry called it an unprecedented case and promised to pay “special attention” to it.

Maria Zakharova, press attaché of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has had her visa revoked for participation in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) ministerial meeting in Malta on December 5-6. This was reported by the press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry, UNN reports.

An unprecedented case was the revocation on the eve of the event of a visa already issued by the Maltese Chairmanship to Russian Foreign Ministry official Maria Zakharova with the wording "due to circumstances beyond their control,

– the message says.

Details

The ministry promised that the decision to cancel Zakharova's visa would be given "special attention" during the meeting. In addition, the ministry accused "a number of Western countries" of using the OSCE platform "in their own interests.

Recall

Last year, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrived in North Macedonia for an OSCE meeting via Greece after Bulgaria closed its airspace to his plane because Russian press secretary Maria Zakharova was on board.

December 4, 2024
Blinken confirms Ukraine to receive $50 billion transfer from frozen Russian assets

Ukraine is set to receive $50 billion in frozen Russian assets held by the United States and the European Union, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Dec. 4.

Blinken confirmed during a briefing that the transfer is part of a coordinated effort between the U.S. and EU to support Ukraine.

"Making sure that (Ukraine) has the money, the resources it needs to sustain its economy and to sustain its defense – we’ve now managed on the basis of the frozen sovereign assets, the Russian assets that are frozen, to get $50 billion to Ukraine that will be going out the door in the next – in the coming weeks, both from the United States and Europe," Blinken said.

The funds, frozen in response to Russia's invasion, will provide crucial economic and defense assistance to Ukraine in the coming months. Blinken noted that the U.S. has provided $102 billion in assistance to Ukraine since 2022, while the allies and partners contributed $158 billion.

On Dec. 2, Blinken announced that the U.S. will deliver a $725 million weapons package to Ukraine. The move comes as President Joe Biden's administration, nearing the end of its term, works to strengthen Kyiv's defenses against Russian forces before the January transition of power.

The package will include Stinger missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, drones, and landmines, among other equipment.

51% of Americans oppose military aid for Ukraine, poll showsU.S. citizens remain split on whether to continue sending military support to Ukraine, with a razor-thin majority voicing opposition, according to a CBS/YouGov poll published on Nov. 25.The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

December 4, 2024
Russian army fired 79 times at the border areas of Sumy region

Over the past day, the occupiers fired 79 times at the border areas of Sumy region, and 155 explosions were recorded. The attacks included the use of mortars, artillery, drones and aircraft in seven communities in the region.

During the day, the Russians fired 79 times at the border areas and settlements of Sumy region. 155 explosions were recorded. This was reported by the Sumy RMA, according to UNN.

The Khotyn, Bilopil, Krasnopil, Velykopysarivska, Esmanska, Sveska, Znob-Novgorodska communities were shelled,

– the statement said.

Velykopysarivska community: 3 mines were dropped by Russians on the territory of the community. There were also explosive device drops from UAVs (8 explosions), MLRS shelling (30 explosions), a kamikaze drone strike (1 explosion), and artillery shelling (5 explosions).

Bilopilska community: the enemy attacked with mortars (6 explosions), FPV drones (3 explosions).

Krasnopilska community: FPV drone strikes (5 explosions), UAV explosive device drops (17 explosions), helicopter gunship strike (5 explosions), mortar attacks (19 explosions), artillery shelling (11 explosions), and UAS launches (3 explosions) were carried out from the territory of the Russian Federation.

Khotyn community: FPV drone strikes (22 explosions) and shelling from cannon artillery (11 explosions) were recorded.

Znob-Novgorod community: 2 mines were dropped by Russians on the territory of the community.

Sveska community: the enemy used mortars (1 explosion).

Esman community: FPV drone attack (3 explosions).

The fall of an enemy drone caused a fire in a house in the Vinnytsia regionDec 4 2024, 08:14 AM • 15325 views

December 4, 2024
US imposes visa restrictions on five Russian officials responsible for abducting Ukrainian children
The US Department of State has imposed visa restrictions on five individuals linked to the forced deportation, transfer and confinement of Ukrainian children.

Source: US Department of State, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Department of State did not disclose the names of the sanctioned individuals but specified that they are Russian officials and officials of "authorities installed by Russia" (presumably in temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine).

"Many of these children have had their identities changed and origins obscured, have been subjected to pro-Russia indoctrination and militarisation, or have been adopted by Russian families," the US Department of State noted.

It continued: "Kremlin authorities have created a multitude of obstacles preventing the return of these children to Ukraine. Russia’s continued contempt for its international legal obligations to report the locations of these children makes securing their safe return nearly impossible."

The announcement also mentioned that the US was "deeply concerned by the increasing number of reports of Ukrainian children being wrongfully adopted by Russian citizens" and pledged to do everything possible to bring these children back to Ukraine and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Background:
- In October, Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s Human Rights Commissioner, said that Russia has abducted more than 20,000 Ukrainian children since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
- It was for this crime that the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Russian Children’s Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova in 2023.
- In September, the Polish Sejm passed a resolution condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children.
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December 4, 2024